Antifriction bearing for leaf springs



Dec. 28, 1926. 1,612,153

H. SALTER ANTIFRICTION BEARING FOR LEAF SPRINGS Filed March 51, 1925 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

stars er HENRY SALTER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB- OF ONE-THIRD T0 JOHN DAY AND ONE-THIRD T0 PAUL KEMBERLEY, BOI'EX 9F LONDON, EHGLAND.

ANTIFRICTI'SN BEARING FOR LEAF SPRINGS.

Application filed March 31, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to leaf-springs and has particular application to those springs used for motor vehicles. Elie invention has for its main object to provide an improved form oi anti-friction hearing between the leaves of the spring so that wear oi the leaves is reduced and a spring of increased flexibility and smoothness of action is produced. For this purpose it has been proposed to provide balls or rollers between the leaves, which balls or rollers have been held in cages or bearingsto maintain them in correct position.

According to the present invention there is provided a leaf-spring oi the rollers are interposed between the leaves with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves which is characterized in that the rollers are main tained in position against late displace ment by means of end flanges which oven the edges of the leaves. in this man" ner the rollers are freely disposed and held in their operative positionbetween the leaves without the aid of cages or bearings or slots in the leaves, which devices complicate manufacture and tend to reduce the etiicieney of the spring.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved spring;

Figure 2 is a plan thereof;

Figure 3 is a part sectional elevation of a portion of the spring drawn to a larger scale; and

Figure l is a plan of the part shown in Figure 3 with a portion of the leavesremoved.

Like reference numerals parts in the various figures.

In the construction shown in Figures 1-4, rollers 'Z are interposed between pairs of leaves 8 and short leaves or spacing pieces are provided in the middle of the spring to leave spaces 10 on each side for the accommodation of the rollers. The leaves are bound in the centre by any usual means such as the bolt 11.

Some of the rollers (herein referred to as alternate rollers) are provided with end flanges 12 which are arranged to overhang refer to like 19,603, and in Great Britain June 25. 1924:-

the edges of the leaves 8 and also to overhang the ends of intermediate rollers which will be designated 7 and which are of a length approximately equal to the width of the leaves. The arrangement is clearly shown in Figures 3 and t from which it will be observed that there are two intermediate rollers between the alternate rollermrnd in this connection the word alternate is intended to apply in the case where one, two or more intermediate rollers are used. With this rangement all the rollers are retained against lateral movement and the end flanges or discs 12 serve to maintain the requisite spacing of the rollers.

To limit the movement of he rollers in the direction of the sliding movement of the leaves, stops are provided in the path of the end rollers. These stops may be constituted by the pins 13 or by metal strips secured to the leaves and projecting therefrom a sultiicient distance to arrest the rollers.

Shackles l l secured one to each end o't one of the leaves by rivets or the like 15 and each having a bridge-piece constituted by a bolt or the like 16 which has a small clearance from the top leaf, prevent opening of the free ends of the leaves to such an extent as to allow the rollers to override one another, or to override the aforesaid stops, the aforesaid clearance beino sufficient to'allow free movement of the leaves. The heads of the rivets 15 projecting on the upper side of the leaf to which the shackles are secured may serve as the stops for the end rollers.

What I claim as my invention to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A leaf-spring comprising in combina tion a plurality of leaves a plurality of rollers between said leaves disposed with their and desire axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, flanges operatively connected to alternate rollers and arranged to overhang the edges of the leaves and also to overhang the ends of an intermediate roller in such manner as to maintain the said rollers in position against lateral displacement, and means to limit the movement of the rollers in the direction of sliding move ment of the leaves.

2. A leaf-spring comprising in combination a plurality of leaves, a plurality of rollers between said leaves disposed with their axes transverse to the direction of slid- Ill) ing movement of the, leaves, and flanges operatively connected to the ends of alternate rollers arranged to overhang the edges 01": the leaves and also to overhang the ends of an intermediate roller.

3. A leaf-spring comprising in combination a plurality of leaves, a plurality 01" rollers between said leaves disposed with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, and circular flanges operatively connected to the ends of alternate rollers arranged to overhang the edges of the leaves and also to overhang the ends of intermediate rollers.

l. A leaf-spring comprising in combination a plurality of leaves, a spacing-piece interposed between said'leaves to space them apart, a plurality of rollers between said spaced apart leaves disposed with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, and circular flanges on the ends of alternate rollers arranged to overhang the edges of the leaves and also to overhang the ends of intermediate, rollers.

5. A leaf-sprin comprising in combina tion a plurality of leaves, a plurality of plain rollers extending across the width of the leaves, a plurality of rollers each having an end-flange arranged to overhang the edges of adjacent leaves and also to overhang the ends of an adjacent plain roller, said rollers being interposed between said adjacent leaves with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of said leaves, and means to prevent opening of the freeends or" the leaves to such an extent as to release the rollers.

6. A leaf-spring comprising in combination a plurality of leaves, a plurality ofplain rollers extending across the width of the leaves, a plurality of rollers having endflanges arranged to overhang the edges of adjacent leaves on opposite sides thereof and also tooverhang the ends of an adjacent plain roller, said rollers being interposed between said adjacentleaves with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of said leaves, means to prevent opening of the free ends of the leaves to such an extent as to release the rollers, and means to limit the movement of the rollers in the di-. rection of sliding movement of the leaves.

7. A leaf-spring comprising in combina tion a plurality of leaves, a spacing-piece interposed between said leaves to space them apart, a plurality of rollers between said spaced apart leaves disposed with their aires transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, and circular flanges on the ends of alternate rollers arranged to overhang the edges of the leaves on opposite sides thereof and also to overhang the ends of intermediate rollers substantially as set "forth.

8. A leaf-spring comprising in combination a plurality of leaves, a spacing-piece interposed between said leaves to space them apart, a plurality of rollers between said spaced apart leaves disposed with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, circular flanges on the ends of alternate rollers arranged to overhang the edges of the leaves on opposite sides thereof and also to overhang the ends of intermediate rollers, means to limit the movement of the rollers in the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, and means to prevent opening of the free ends of the leaves to such an extent as to release the rollers substantially asset forth.

9. A leaf-spring comprising in combination a plurality of leaves, a plurality of spacing-pieces interposed between said leaves to space them apart, a plurality of rollers between said spaced apart leaves disposed with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, circular flanges on the ends of alternate rollers arranged to overhang the edges of the leaves on opposite sides thereof and also to overhang the ends of intermediate rollers, stops on the leaves to limit the movement of the rollers in the direction of sliding movement of the leaves and shackles embracing the leaves and arranged to prevent opening of the free ends thereof to such an extent as to release the rollers substantially as set forth.

10. A leaf-spring comprising in combination a plurality of leaves, a plurality of rollers between said leaves disposed with their axes transverse to the direction of sliding movement of the leaves, flanges operatively connected to alternate rollers and arranged to overhang the edges of the leaves and also to overhang the ends of an intermediate roller in such manner as to maintain the said rollers in position against lateral displacement, and means to prevent opening of the free ends of the leaves to such an extent as to release the rollers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY SALTER. 

